Auxiliary apparatus for self-service auto-wash unit



April 16, 1968 E. CAMPBELL 3,373,167

AUXILIARY APPARATUS FOR SELF'SERVICE AUTO-WASH UNIT Filed March '7, 1967 Dowel SUPPLY 5b sou-mom RELAY 22 POWER wnzss 1b 4 v 2 TIME DELAY 3/10 CONTACTS Z SOLENOID H066. TO cwss. 24 we 50 TIME DELAY m UNE 15 CONTACTB TO on: 2

cmz ,42 Q D as CO p 5 AIQ M RES 0Q (P (P A I MPOWER 50900. I To CAR was $OLENOID RELAY 22 (ME DELAY f CONTACT5 To 6.1.055. 24 lb TIME DELAY CONTACTS To open 26 w (/2 D E Am combness q 25 G D M P Z I Mvowew. SUPPLY To CAR WASH Fe. 2 v

IN VENTOR [Memo/v C/{MPBELL United States Patent 3,378,167 AUXILIARY APPARATUS FOR SELF-SERVER AUTO-WASH UNIT Emerson Campbell, Union, W. Va. 24983 Filed Mar. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 621,210 4 Claims. (Cl. 222--70) ABSTRACT OF THE DESCLQSURE An automatic Winterizing system for coin-operated self-service auto-wash units wherein water normally remaining in hoses after use is fully expelled thereby eliminating freeze up.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The coin-operated unit is provided with means resporn sive to coin operation to supply electrical energy to a pump for a selected interval of time to pump water under pressure through a water line to a hose having a nozzle opened and closed by the user to control the flow of water for washing.

An air compressor is connected to an air line which in turn is connected through a valve to the water line. A solenoid has a coil connected to the energy supply means and energized for each of the intervals. The solenoid has first and second contact sets, the first set contacts closing within a selected first time delay after the coil is deenergized and opening as soon as the coil is energized. The second set contacts open within a selected second time delay after the coil is deenergized and close as soon as the coil is energized.

A source of power is connected in circuit with the contacts. Means connected to the contacts and the source prevents air from the compressor to how through the valve into the water line and hose until the second delay period begins. At this point, with the pump inoperative, air is released from the compressor to blow any water remaining in the water line and hose out of the hose whereby no water remains to freeze and clog up or disable the unit. The air flow ceases at the end of the second delay period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of one form of my invention; and

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a modification thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, when a suitable coin is placed in box It the car wash electrical box 12 delivers power via lines 14 to a pump (not shown) which supplies water under pressure through water line 16 to hose 1%. Box 12 has a preset timer which causes the pump to be energized for a selected period as for example five minutes for twenty-five cents.

Box 12 also supplies power at the same time and for the same period to energize solenoid coil 20 of solenoid 22. Solenoid 22 has contact sets 24 and 26. The-contacts of set 24 open as soon as the coil is energized and close with a first selected time delay after the coil is deenergized. The contacts of set 26 close as soon as the coil is energized and open with a second selected time delay after the coil is deenergized.

An air compressor 28 continuously supplies compressed 3,373,167 Patented Apr. lid, W68

lCC

air through line iii) to input of valve 32. The output of valve 32 is connected to the water line 16. Valve 32 is operated by a solenoid windin g 34 being open when the winding is energized and closed when the winding is deenergized. Contact sets 24 and 26 are connected in series with winding 34 across power supply 36. As a result, winding 34 is energized only after the first delay period to clean water out of the hose to prevent freeze up as indicated.

In FIG. 2, valve 32 is an ordinary one way check valve and the solenoid winding is not used. Instead the compressor itself is only operated. during last delay periods. To this end, the electrical mechanism 50 of the compressor is connected in circuit in the same manner as winding 34 in FIG. 1. In other Words, the compressor is turned off and on in the same manner and timing as the winding 34 closes and opens valve 332 in FIG. 1.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, my protection is to be limited only by the terms of the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a coin-operated self-service auto-wash unit having a water line connected to a hose and provided with means responsive to coil operation to supply electrical energy to a pump for a preselected time interval to cause pressurized water to be supplied to the hose for said interval, in combination:

an air compressor;

an air line connected at one end to the output of the compress-or;

a valve connecting said air line to said water line;

a solenoid having a coil connected to the energy supply means and energized for each of said intervals and first and second time delay contact sets, the first set contacts closing within a selected first time delay after the coil is deenergized and opening as soon as the coil is energized, the second set contacts opening within a selected second time delay after the coil is deenergized and closing as soon as the coil is energizcd;

a source of power connected in circuit with said contacts; and

means connected to said contact sets and said source of power to permit air from the compressor to flow through said valve through said line to blow any water remaining in the hose during the second delay period out of the hose to prevent Winter freeze up.

2. The combination as set forth in claim ll wherein the first and second contacts are connected in series.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said valve is a solenoid valve connected electrically to said contact sets and said source of power.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means connected to the contact sets and said source of power is also connected to the compressor to turn same on and off.

References (Jited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,635,621 4/1953 Hansen.

2,645,379 7/1953 Audia 222-148 X 2,668,636 2/1954 Martin 222-2 2,751,915 6/ 1956 Roberts.

2,906,435 9/1959 Nichols 22276 X 3,253,741 5/1966 Russell et al ZZZ-52 3,300,092 1/1967 Williams 22270 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

